by Sam Ferguson
Gandle bristled. “Asinine is the word I would use.”
“Mess with one of your operations did he?”
“His sister was kidnapped and he went after her captors with a sore vengeance. It will be months before I can replace the revenue that he disrupted.”
“What exactly did he disrupt?” Talon queried.
“There is a small group of smugglers in the city. They work in conjunction with some other criminal organizations in various cities to supply women for brothels. I received a very handsome sum of money each month to make sure that none of my city’s patrolmen ever caught wind of their brothel here in Rasselin, but this ranger botched the whole thing. The women have been moved to a new location, but most of the operatives were killed during the ranger’s raid.” Governor Gandle reached forward and plucked a grape cluster from the fruit bowl.
“I have an idea that might solve your problem with the ranger and garnish more support for your war,” Talon said.
“I’m listening,” Gandle replied as he picked off a grape and popped it in his mouth.
“Allow me to kill this ranger and any others who know of his exploits. We can blame their deaths on the smugglers. We will then announce that the smugglers are connected to King Sarito in Valiv. You can then inform the people that the Zinferth soldiers were killed at the bridge when they tried to stop the smugglers from escaping into Shausmat, but that the Shausmatian soldiers helped the smugglers.”
“Then the people will want me to march the army straight into Valiv for a redress of these grievances,” Gandle stated slyly.
“The best part is you will also avoid invoking the wrath of the smugglers because you will be shifting the focus entirely onto the Shausmatian kingdom. It works for everyone.”
“I still have one question, assassin,” Gandle said with a raised hand. “How does this war help me overthrow my cousin?”
“Am I correct in assuming that you know my reputation?” Talon asked in response.
“I know of your skills,” Gandle replied with a nod.
“Then trust that in the ensuing chaos, I will assassinate the queen myself, along with her sniveling son. Then, after the war, the people will beg you to take the throne as it was you who first responded to the threat of the Shausmatian forces.”
“Can you deliver on that promise I wonder?” Gandle inquired as he took two more grapes in his mouth.
“I would say that my actions at the bridge should answer that question, but if you desire further proof, allow me to handle this ranger. If I succeed, you know I can deliver. If I fail, no one can tie it back to you and you are not out anything.”
“It would be nice to pay him back for his interference, but I should like to add a certain captain to the list of targets as well.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Talon smiled and reached into the bowl for another tomato. “I will wait until nightfall, and then I will make my move.”
*****
“Kai, how are you holding up?” Lador asked when he reached the ranger’s cell.
“I thought you said you would talk to the governor first thing the next morning,” Kai responded while finishing a few more push-ups on the stone floor. “It’s been days. I didn’t know if you were coming back.”
“Believe me, I was there at the crack of dawn the day after we last spoke, but Gandle would not see me until only a few moments ago, the cockeyed dog,” Lador spat.
“I understand. I have never found him to be a hospitable man.”
“I do have good news though,” Lador said. “He has agreed to let you serve out a sentence in the dungeon instead of going to the gallows.” Lador leaned in and grabbed the bars of the cell’s door.
“How long did the old buzzard give me?” Kai asked as he rose to his feet.
“A very merciful forty years,” Lador laughed.
“Wow, thanks for the favor,” Kai smirked. “I’d rather die on the gallows than waste away in this hole for forty years. That would make me seventy-three by the time I got out of here. I wouldn’t have any life left in me.” Kai shook his head and leaned against the bars.
“Well then, it is a good thing that you won’t be here for forty years,” Lador chuckled. “I have arranged for the guards to go on an extended meal break, so I hope you are ready to leave now.”
“Gee, I dunno, I have grown rather fond of my cell lately,” Kai sniffled sarcastically.
“Alright wise-guy, let’s go. Just remember, if you get caught out there, it’s both our heads on the chopping block.”
“Don’t you worry about me, boss, by this time tomorrow I will have the evidence you need to put the governor in chains,” Kai promised.
“There is one small hiccup,” Lador put in as he reached for the door’s lock. “The governor informed me that there was an attack at Hart’s Bridge yesterday. He is assembling the soldiers to retake the bridge and guard against further attacks. I tell you this because the city is on an even higher level of alert now than before, and it may be harder to get into the governor’s manor.”
“I understand,” Kai replied somberly. “I will be discreet.”
“I wish you fortune, and Basei’s blessings,” Lador said as he unlocked and opened the cell door.
“I won’t let you down,” Kai assured him.
*****
Talon, now dressed in a tan and red tunic, brown breeches, and a sand-colored hooded cloak, stood at the edge of Rasselin’s main square. He couldn’t quite make out the words that Governor Gandle was shouting, though, because the old man’s voice wasn’t strong enough to reach him, but that was alright. Talon knew the general gist of what was being said. He could also see the people’s reactions. His plan was working. Soon the citizens of Rasselin would be clamoring for war, and the queen would have no choice but to go along with it. Talon just needed to ensure the plan’s success by eliminating a pair of pesky investigators, and removing a few key political elites.
He turned his back on the crowd in the square and walked to the nearest tavern to wet his pipes and hopefully procure a well prepared hot meal before going about his business of death later in the evening.
After spending the last hours of daylight in the Skunk’s Tail, he exited and went out onto the long street that led to the dungeon. The twilight turned the sky a pale gray, but still left enough light to find one’s way without needing lamps or torches. As he walked, he pulled a parchment from a pocket in his cloak and opened it. “Thank you, Governor Gandle,” Talon said as he perused the dungeon’s floor plans. He quickly memorized the top level, where the offices, mess hall, and questioning cell were located, down to the bottom level, where all of the prisoners’ cells were located. The governor had been kind enough to mark each guard station on the plans with a red “x.” This was going to be a cake-walk.
As he neared the large, reinforced wooden door of the dungeon he smiled and his hand floated above his sword, ready for action. A patrolman stood next to the door, wearing studded leather pants, a shirt-of-mail that peeked out from under a yellow tunic with a black crescent moon embroidered on the chest, and a small but sturdy steel cap with leather padding around the brim. It was certainly not going to be difficult for Talon to get around the armor and strike the patrolman’s vital areas.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we aren’t allowing any visitors at this time,” the guard said with a smile.
“It will only take a moment,” Talon sneered under his hood.
“I can’t let you in, sir,” the guard repeated.
Talon shrugged and leapt forward. His left hand deftly grabbed the guard’s spear while his right hand slashed a dagger across the man’s throat. Talon pushed hard with his left hand, holding the patrolman against the wall as he replaced his dagger in its sheath and opened the door with his right hand. He jerked the patrolman from the wall and dragged him inside.
He quickly slammed the door shut and dropped the squirming patrolman. His left hand went under his cloak and pulled out a mini-crossbow
just as a guard came out of a door to Talon’s left. The assassin had expected the door to open and his weapon was already aimed at the guard before the guard noticed the other patrolman on the floor. The crossbow shaft sunk into the second guard’s neck, knocking him back into the doorway he had emerged from.
Talon ran down the hall, reloading his mini-crossbow and aiming it at another door to the right. When the door swung open, his crossbow shaft sailed in and slew the emerging guard without a sound.
The assassin ran on. He ignored the third door on his left, knowing that it was just the interrogation room and had no guards inside. He pressed farther down the hall until he came to a large door that led to the mess-hall. Talon drew his sword, but there was no need, the hall was completely empty. He kept his sword out and stormed down to the end of the hall where the stairs were located. He leapt down three steps at a time to keep his momentum up. When he reached the bottom he slammed hard into a large guard. Talon was able to keep his footing, but the large patrolman fell back and hit his head on the ground, resounding in a sickening crack.
“Gandle sent you, didn’t he?” the man accused. He struggled to his feet and glared into the assassin’s eyes.
“I am curious to know how you guessed that,” Talon replied.
“Just a lucky guess,” the man replied as he drew out his sword.
Talon saw the insignia on the patrolman’s shoulders and realized that he was standing face to face with one of his targets. “Captain Lador,” Talon growled. “I was expecting someone a little taller.” With a flick of his wrist, the assassin slashed Lador’s right arm. The captain’s sword fell from his grasp, clanking as it bounced along the stone floor.
Captain Lador pulled a long-knife with his left hand and lashed out at Talon, but the assassin batted the knife aside with a quick parry of his sword. Talon unleashed a savage left kick to Lador’s ribs, and then bashed Lador’s forehead with the hilt of his sword. Lador fell back to the floor. He turned to look up at Talon just as Talon’s blade bit through his chainmail and into his chest.
“Khefir take you,” Lador grunted as the blade made its way deeper into his chest. Lador coughed and convulsed. Blood erupted from his mouth as he hacked and choked.
“Don’t fight it Captain,” Talon said coolly. He jerked the sword upward and withdrew his sword. Then he ended the ordeal with a slash to Lador’s neck.
Lador’s body twitched a few times before his final strength ebbed out. Talon bent down and searched the captain for the key to the first gate. After he found it, he opened the gate and started down the hall. Most of the cells were empty, but a few held prisoners inside. Talon checked each cell very carefully, but it appeared that the prisoners he saw had been in the dungeon for a lot longer than a couple of days. When he reached the end of the hall, he realized that there was a problem. He raced back to the nearest cell with an inmate inside and opened the door.
The prisoner, an old, gray-haired man scurried back against the far wall and curled into the fetal position. Talon growled, crossed the cell in three paces and yanked the man up by his shirt.
“Where is the man they call Kai?” Talon growled.
“I dunno,” the prisoner stammered. “I-I-I dun-dunno.”
Talon released the man from his grip but stared at him menacingly. “Was there another man in these dungeons earlier today?”
The prisoner squirmed, trying to get away, but there was nowhere to go. He cowered against the wall, refusing to make eye contact. “I don’t know,” he repeated.
Talon raised his sword and pressed the tip, ever so lightly, against the prisoner’s throat. “Last chance,” Talon warned.
“Aye, there was another man, but the captain let him go earlier today,” the gray-haired man squealed.
“Are you sure?” Talon pressed the tip into the man’s skin just a bit.
“Yes, I’m sure,” the man quivered.
The assassin pulled his sword away and put it in its sheath. “Thank you.”
“Y-y-you’re welcome,” the prisoner said.
Talon swiftly punched the man’s throat with such force that it collapsed his windpipe. The gray-haired prisoner fell to the floor, struggling for breath for a few moments before he gave up the ghost.
Talon moved on to each occupied cell in a similar fashion. First he would question the prisoner about Kai, and then he would kill them, ensuring that no witnesses were left alive. His brutal interrogation uncovered the fact that Lador had apparently released Kai just a half hour before Talon’s arrival. The assassin spat on Lador’s body as he came out of the hallway. He bent down and removed a signet ring from the captain’s hand, and he removed one of Lador’s fingers as well. Then he made his way back up the stairs, dismayed that Kai had escaped. The ranger could be anywhere by now, but Talon was accustomed to altering plans on short notice.
*****
Gandle sat in his favorite chair in the library in front of the empty fireplace. A book rested on the small table next to him, but he was not interested in it. He was busy calculating the possible outcomes of the war. His thoughts kept alternating between ultimate failure and a sweeping victory where he could remove his cousin from the throne. He was almost done replaying the war in his head for the fourth time when the door opened. The governor looked up from his daydream to see Talon walking into the room.
“Do you have the ring and the finger?” Gandle inquired.
“Here is the captain’s ring,” Talon replied as he strolled over and dropped the ring on Gandle’s lap. “And here is Kai’s finger,” Talon lied. He produced a small bundle of cloth and handed it to Gandle.
Governor Gandle gingerly unwrapped the cloth and inspected the severed finger. “Most excellent,” Gandle commented as he examined the finger and ring.
“Then, I take it you are satisfied with my work?” Talon surmised.
“I must admit that I am definitely pleased,” Gandle replied. “I have another small task for you though.”
“Dropping another body are we?” Talon sniggered
Gandle shook his head. “Don’t worry, it is just a letter I want delivered to someone in Kobhir,” Gandle said. “I want you to deliver this to General Tehrigg when you go to meet with the queen.”
“Why?” Talon asked.
“General Tehrigg has vowed to give me support in the new regime in return for a small advance in power for himself. He has been in league with me since Raimus first approached me with his proposal.”
“What will you have him do?” Talon inquired.
“I have sent another letter to a contact in Shausmat. I will arrange for Tehrigg to lead some of our soldiers into a trap and then he will return back here to Rasselin with Shausmatian soldiers in Zinferth uniforms. I will let them in and then we will take the city over and turn it into a stronghold for the Shausmatian Empire.”
“Why would you do that?” Talon probed. “I don’t see how giving Rasselin to Shausmat would advance your plans to rule Zinferth.”
“I have my connections too,” Gandle smirked. “I made a plan for myself long before Raimus presented his ideas. I knew that your former boss was using me, but I was using him in return. My betrayal of this country may seem counterintuitive, but I will explain.” Gandle wrapped the finger and set it aside on the table, along with Lador’s ring.
“I’m listening,” Talon said. The assassin folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against a bookshelf.
“Raimus didn’t just want to assassinate the queen and her son. He was also working to make it look as though the assassin was employed by King Sarito. Theodorus was going to display false evidence to the advisors and have war declared on Shausmat. The problem was that I disagreed with Raimus. I didn’t believe that the people of Zinferth would be willing to go to war over that. Queen Dalynn is not as well loved by the people as your employer believed.”
“My partner,” Talon corrected with a raised finger.
Gandle snorted and conceded the point. “So I concocted a co
ntingency plan. My contact, who will remain nameless at this point, is a high-ranking official, close to King Sarito. He and I devised a plan that would kick in, if the advisors failed to declare war.” Gandle stopped and squinted at Talon. “Are you following me so far, lad?”
“I understand,” Talon said with a nod.
“Very well,” Gandle continued. “The plan was very simple. My contact would order a large army of Shausmatian soldiers to go to a pre-designated point in the Lilik Desert. The commander of the army would be informed that the Zinferth general, General Tehrigg, would betray his army to them. Then General Tehrigg was to take command of half of the Shausmatian force and dress them in Zinferth uniforms. Afterwards he was to march back here, to Rasselin. The guards would see soldiers with Zinferth uniforms, flying Zinferth banners, and led by a Zinferth commander. They would open the gates and let the army in. Then Tehrigg would take this city from within. This would grant the Shausmatian army a great foothold on Zinferth soil, and it would ensure that war would be waged between the two nations.”
“What was your exit strategy?” Talon inquired.
“That was simple,” Gandle chuckled. “I was going to sneak away in the night, travel to Kobhir and raise an army. I would then engage General Tehrigg at a prearranged location. The general would then purposefully surrender and withdraw his troops. I would then pursue his men all the way to Hart’s Bridge. After that, I would be a war hero, and the people would most certainly put me on the throne. It was a brilliant plan.”
“But when Raimus failed, this plan died before it could begin,” Talon surmised.
Gandle nodded and cleared his throat. “Raimus made a fatal error in his planning. He tried to use a trading caravan to smuggle in the assassins, and to correspond with Theodorus.”
“It seemed logical at the time,” Talon said with a shrug. “Theodorus was the Minister of Trade.”
“True,” Gandle agreed. “But Raimus didn’t factor in the Merchant Guard.” Gandle leaned forward in his chair and narrowed his eyes on the empty fireplace. “One of the Merchant Guard captains caught wind of the operation and went straight to the queen.” Gandle jammed his index finger into the arm of the chair and tapped it a few times as he leaned back. “She is a crafty one, my cousin.”
